Second US airman is injured but SAFE after ‘miraculous’ rescue deep in enemy territory, says Trump
A second US airman shot down over Iran has been rescued in a daring mission after a fierce firefight with the IRGC, reports say.
The airman was saved and all members of the search team safely made it out of Iran, according to Fox News’ Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin.
Griffin said in an X post the crew member used SERE – survival, evasion, resistance and escape – training to evade capture for two days.
The F-15E weapons system officer ejected from the aircraft on Friday night along with the pilot over enemy lines when their aircraft was shot down.
The pilot was secretly rescued hours after the crash, which the White House saying they kept quiet to not ‘jeopardize our second rescue operation.’
Iran placed a large bounty on the US servicemembers heads, leading to two days of intense fighting over enemy lines.
The F-15E jet was downed on Friday soon after a US A-10 Warthog was also shot down by Iranian forces in a chaotic day of fighting, marking the first US aircraft downed since the start of the conflict.
Details over the battle for the pilot on Saturday evening are scarce, with reports saying intense fighting took place in the city of Dehdasht – where the aircraft was downed two days ago.
A number of fatalities were reported as footage circulating social media showed explosions filling the skies over the Iranian airspace.
It came as President Trump said on Truth Social that US forces had ‘terminated’ several of Iran’s military leaders, sharing footage appearing to show an airstrike taking out top IRGC commanders.
A second US pilot shot down over Iran has been rescued in a daring rescue mission following a fierce firefight with the IRGC, reports say. The wreckage of the pilot’s F-15E fighter jet is pictured
Pictured: The ejected seat from the US aircraft as published in Iranian media
Trump touted the success of the rescue mission on Saturday evening, saying in a statement: ‘WE GOT HIM!’
Trump touted the success of the rescue mission on Saturday evening, saying in a statement: ‘WE GOT HIM!
‘My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!
‘This brave Warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour, but was never truly alone because his Commander in Chief, Secretary of War, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and fellow Warfighters were monitoring his location 24 hours a day, and diligently planning for his rescue.
‘At my direction, the U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him.
‘He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine. This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave Pilot, yesterday, which we did not confirm, because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation.
‘This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. Pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in Enemy Territory.
‘WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND! The fact that we were able to pull off both of these operations, without a SINGLE American killed, or even wounded, just proves once again, that we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies.
‘This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around. We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal Military in the History of the World. GOD BLESS AMERICA, GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS, AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!’
